Tip part for an endoscope

ABSTRACT

A disposable endoscope with a tip part including a vision sensor, an exterior housing having a front wall and a circumferential wall, an interior spacing of the exterior housing accommodating the vision sensor, and a camera window positioned at least partly in front of the vision sensor, the housing further comprising a nozzle provided at the distal end of the tip part and configured to flush an exterior surface of the window, wherein the front wall and the nozzle are integrally formed in one piece from one polymer material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of EuropeanPatent Application No. EP20153967, filed Jan. 28, 2020, which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to insertable medical vision devices,such as, but not limited to, endotracheal tubes and endoscopes, inparticular disposable insertion endoscopes, more specifically to a tippart of such a vision device, to an endoscope with such a tip part, andto a method of manufacture of such a tip part, the tip part comprising anozzle.

BACKGROUND

Vision devices, such as endoscopes, are well known for visuallyinspecting inaccessible places such as human body cavities. Typically,the endoscope comprises an elongated insertion tube with a handle at theproximal end, as seen from the operator, and visual inspection means,such as a built-in camera including a vision sensor, at a distal end ofthe elongated insertion tube. This definition of the terms distal andproximal, i.e. “proximal” being the end closest to the operator and“distal” being the end remote from the operator, as used herein forendoscopes in general, is adhered to in the present specification.Electrical wiring for the camera and other electronics, such as one ormore LEDs accommodated in the tip part at the distal end, runs along theinside of the elongated insertion tube from the handle to the tip part.A working or suction channel may run along the inside of the insertiontube from the handle to the tip part, e.g. allowing liquid to be removedfrom the body cavity or allowing for insertion of surgical instrumentsor the like into the body cavity. The suction channel may be connectedto a suction connector, typically positioned at a handle at the proximalend of the insertion tube.

To be able to manoeuvre the endoscope inside the body cavity, the distalend of the endoscope may comprise a bending section with increasedflexibility, e.g. a number of articulated segments of which the tip partor an external housing thereof may form the distalmost segment. Themaneuvering of the endoscope inside the body is typically done bytensioning or slacking pull wires also running along the inside of theelongated insertion tube from the tip part through the remainder ofarticulated segments to a control mechanism of the handle.

As the name indicates, endoscopes are used for seeing inside things,such as lungs or other human body cavities of a patient. Modernendoscopes are therefore typically equipped with a light source and avision receptor including a vision or image sensor. Provided thatsufficient light is present, it is possible for the operator to seewhere the endoscope is steered and to set the target of interest oncethe tip has been advanced thereto. This therefore normally requiresillumination of the area in front of the distal tip of the endoscope, inparticular the field of vision of the camera(s). The light source, suchas a light emitting diode or an optical fiber, may provide illumination.

Additionally, when, as in the present disclosure, the insertion tube ofthe endoscope is intended to be inserted into a human body cavity, theinsertion tube should furthermore be sealed in a watertight manner. Thisis particularly the case for a distal tip part accommodating a camera,LED(s), and/or other delicate electronics, prone to malfunction ordestruction if exposed to humidity.

One known way of sealing the tip part of an endoscope is disclosed inWO2010/066790. In this document, a transparent monolithic housing isformed around the electronics and working channel by placing theelectronics and the tube forming the working channel in a mold oftransparent material, such as silicone. A transparent UV curable resinis then inserted from the bottom of the mold to avoid bubbles to form inthe transparent resin. Because the resin rises slowly from the bottom,the air is slowly expelled from top of the mold, without any risk of airbubbles being trapped in the mold. The resin is then cured using UVirradiation through the transparent mold to form the monolithic housing.

Tip part fluid nozzles are known from the prior art. Such nozzles aretypically formed by providing a metal blank and then milling out thefluid paths within the nozzle. Some prior art nozzles are positioned toproject from a front surface of the tip part. Typically, a milled outmetal nozzle element is attached to an exterior housing of the tip part.In use, the tip part is then connected to one or more fluid sources. Thefluid provided from the fluid sources may be liquid, such as water,and/or gas, such as carbon dioxide. In some prior art tip parts, onenozzle is provided for ejection of both gas and liquid; in others, twoseparate nozzles are provided. Ejection of liquid from the nozzle istypically used for flushing a front surface or a camera window or lightwindows with liquid and thereby cleaning at least part of the frontsurface. Ejected gas may be used for cleaning remaining liquid on thecamera window off after flushing with liquid, but is primarily used forexpanding a body volume to improve the view through the camera.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

A first aspect of this disclosure relates to a tip part for forming atip of a disposable insertion endoscope, the tip part comprising: anexterior housing having an open proximal end for connection to otherparts of the endoscope, such as an insertion tube, the housing furtherhaving a front wall, wherein a circumferential wall of the housingextends from a front end of the housing to the proximal end of thehousing, the circumferential wall and the front wall enclosing aninterior spacing accommodating a vision receptor able to provide animage from light received from an object to be investigated; and acamera window positioned at least partly in front of the visionreceptor, the camera window being positioned in, positioned in front of,or forming part of the front wall so that light received from the objectcan pass through the window to the vision receptor; wherein the housingfurther comprises a nozzle provided at the distal end of the tip partfor flushing an exterior surface of the window with a liquid transferredto the nozzle through a liquid conduit extending from the proximal endof the housing, through the interior spacing, and to the nozzle; andwherein the front wall and the circumferential wall are integrallyformed from one polymer material and are in one piece with each other,and the front wall and the nozzle are integrally formed from said onepolymer material and are in one piece with each other.

The tip parts according to this disclosure may make it possible toreduce external dimensions of the tip parts and may reduce costs andtime in manufacture.

The tip of the disposable insertion endoscope may be a distal tip of thedisposable insertion endoscope.

The front wall may be a distal front wall positioned oppositely from theproximal end and at least partly coinciding with a distal end of the tippart.

The circumferential wall of the housing may extend from the, potentiallydistal, front wall of the housing to the proximal end of the housing.

The nozzle may be provided at the distal end of the tip part.

The camera window may be an opening in the exterior housing or atransparent part in or of the exterior housing enabling light to enterinto the tip part to be received by the image sensor.

The camera window may comprise a second material, which may be a secondpolymer material, and which may be different from said one polymermaterial of the exterior housing. The camera window and the exteriorhousing may be integrally molded in one piece by a multi-componentmolding process, which may be according to the methods according to thesecond aspect of this disclosure. A front surface of the camera windowmay be in the same plane as a front surface of the exterior housing.

The term “integrally formed in one piece” as used herein may involvethat two or more parts are integrally molded in one piece with eachother.

The exterior housing may be cup-shaped, the cup being formed by thefront wall and the circumferential wall.

The nozzle may be a liquid nozzle or a nozzle for ejection of liquidand/or may be a gas nozzle or a nozzle for ejection of gas.

Said one polymer material may include or consist of one or severalpolymers and/or further materials. One or more of said polymers may beplastic or thermoplastic polymers. Said one polymer material and apotential second polymer material (see below) may be selected fromthermoplastic materials, thermoset materials, and elastomers. The secondmaterial may comprise or consist of a transparent material and/or mayinclude or consist of several polymers and/or further materials. Saidone polymer material and/or said second polymer material may befiber-reinforced. The first material may be opaque at least in a setcondition. Said one polymer material may also be selected for otherproperties, such as good adhesion to sealant materials and adhesives.Thus, the set said one polymer material may have better adhesionproperties to glue than the second polymer material.

The circumferential wall may have a cylindrical or circular-cylindricalouter and/or inner surface. The circumferential wall may comprise or bea circumferentially extending cylindrical wall.

The front wall of the housing may include a liquid outlet, which may befor introducing liquid into the nozzle. The front wall of the housingmay include further outlets, inlets, and/or openings, such as a workingchannel opening and a water jet outlet for rinsing tissue.

The tip part may further comprise a bending section having a distal endsegment, the distal end of the bending section and the proximal open endof the housing potentially being adjoined to each other.

A first window part and a second window part of the camera window may bemolded as one single piece of a second polymer material.

The nozzle may be formed integrally with the front wall as a singlepiece of a first polymer material and/or integrally with said first andsecond window parts as a single piece of the second polymer material.

The first material may be opaque. This may allow the introduction ofshading parts inter alia reducing stray light and glare into the visionreceptor.

The first material may have better adhesion properties to glue than thesecond material. This may allow the circumferential wall of the housingto adhere efficiently to a sealing glue for sealing the interiorspacing, and for an exterior sleeve or an outer sheath of the insertiontube of the endoscope to be securely adhered to the exterior or theinterior of the circumferential wall of the housing.

The second material may be a thermoplastic material. This may allow theexterior housing to be produced in an efficient manner, such as byinjection molding.

The molding tool may comprise a first mold cavity, a second mold cavityand a core. The first cavity and the second cavity may have generallycylindrical shapes.

The first material may be allowed to set before the at least one secondmaterial is introduced.

A volume of the at least one second material introduced in the mold maybe smaller than a volume of the first material introduced in the mold.

The at least one second material may be selected from the groupcomprising thermoplastic materials, thermoset materials, and elastomers.

The at least one second material may comprise the transparent material.

The vision sensor may be a camera sensor of a camera. The vision sensorand camera may form part of a vision receptor, which may also include alens stack and a printed circuit board (PCB). At least part of or all ofthe vision receptor may be accommodated in the exterior housing.

The circumferential wall may be a side wall and/or may have asubstantially cylindrical shape. The front wall and window may beintegrally formed or molded in one piece. The front wall and thecircumferential wall may form a liquid-tight (except for any potentialinlets, outlets, and openings) barrier or border between an exterior ofthe tip part or the environment and the interior spacing of the tippart. The exterior housing may also accommodate at least part of aworking channel for supplying fluid to a working channel opening in thefront wall, a PCB of the vision receptor, and/or the vision sensor orimage sensor of a vision receptor.

By integrally forming the circumferential wall and window, a sealed tippart may be provided. Additionally, assembly of the tip part may be madesimpler as fewer parts are required.

Additionally or alternatively, the exterior housing may essentiallyconsist of the same material as the window, such as a transparentmaterial.

This may provide the advantage that the first and second materials canbe selected according to the desired properties, for instance atransparent material may be selected for the window and an opaquematerial may be selected for the exterior housing.

In this context and applying generally to this disclosure, the term“comprises” includes “consists essentially of”. The multi-componentmolding process may be a two-component molding process.

The tip part may further comprise at least one light source forproviding light to the object to be investigated, the light sourcepotentially being accommodated in the interior spacing of the exteriorhousing.

The camera window may also extend to be positioned in front of the firstlight source, or a window part may include the camera window and one ormore light windows as described further below. Alternatively, a lightwindow provided separately from the camera window may be provided forthe light source, the separate light window being provided in front ofthe light source, potentially in a distal front surface of the tip part.

The exterior housing may comprise a first polymer material and a secondpolymer material, the second polymer material being transparent,

The exterior housing may comprise a first window part arranged in frontof an electronic vision device in the field of view thereof and a secondwindow part arranged in front of at least one light source.

The light source(s) may be optical fiber or a light emitting diode(LED).

The light source may be a first light source, and the tip part maycomprise a second light source. The second light source may be providedin a manner similar to the first light source. The first light sourcemay be positioned at a first lateral side of the vision sensor and/orreceptor, and the second light source may be positioned on an oppositelateral side of the vision sensor and/or vision receptor.

The vision receptor may comprise one or more lenses, potentiallyarranged in a lens stack and arranged between the vision receptor andthe camera window, potentially in the housing.

An exterior front surface of the tip part may be substantially planar,wherein the nozzle may project in a front or distal direction from aplane of the distal front surface. The circumferential wall may extendfrom the front surface, potentially along lateral sides of the visionsensor and/or vision receptor and the potential light source.

The circumferential wall may extend in a directiondistally-to-proximally. The exterior front wall may extend in atransverse direction, the transverse direction being transverse to thedistally-to-proximally direction.

The nozzle may include one or two or more fluid inlets and at least onefluid outlet. The one or more fluid inlets may be formed by outlets ofrespective fluid channels and/or fluid tubes as described further below.

The tip part, in particular the one or more fluid tubes, may beconnected to or be connectable to one or more fluid sources. The fluidprovided from the fluid sources may be liquid and/or air or gas. Theliquid may be water. The gas may be carbon dioxide. Ejection of liquidfrom or a liquid jet ejected or sprayed from the nozzle may be used forflushing with liquid and thereby cleaning at least part of the frontsurface of the camera window. Ejected gas may be used for cleaningremaining liquid on the camera window off after flushing with liquid.The ejected gas may also be used for expanding a body volume. The gasmay also be used for accelerating or otherwise affecting the liquid flowand/or the liquid flushing process.

The nozzle may comprise at least one nozzle outlet which may facetowards the camera window. The nozzle outlet may include an outletopening. The outlet opening may have a width in a direction extendingalong a front surface of the tip part and a depth extending in theproximal-distal direction. The outlet opening may be rectangular, inparticular when viewed in a radial direction transverse to theproximal-distal direction towards the nozzle outlet. The outlet openingmay include rounded corners. The nozzle outlet may, when seen towards afront surface of the tip part, have an outwardly rounded shape, whichmay increase an opening area of the outlet opening compared to if theshape were linear. This rounded shape may be formed by an edge of anozzle roof, this edge forming a top edge of the nozzle opening. Beneaththe roof, in the proximal direction, a bottom edge may be formed by anozzle floor or, if no nozzle floor is present, by an edge of a planefront surface of the exterior housing.

The nozzle may have a low depth, which may be measured from the bottomedge to the top edge, compared to its width. A proportional relationshipof depth:width may be from 1:2 to 1:12, in particular from 1:3 to 1:11,1:4 to 1:10, 1:4 to 1:9, 1:5 to 1:9, 1:6 to 1:9 or 1:7 to 1:9. The depthmay be from 0.1 to 0.3 mm, in particular from 0.15 to 0.25 mm. The widthmay be from 1 to 2.2 mm, in particular from 1.3 to 1.9 or 1.4 to 1.8 mm.This may provide a flat jet that may be used to flush the entire camerawindow, including potential light windows, especially if the hand fanshape as described below is also applied.

The nozzle may comprise a nozzle roof with an interior roof surfacefacing in the proximal direction. The nozzle roof may extend to thenozzle outlet. The roof may have an opposed exterior surface facing inthe distal or front direction. The interior roof surface may bepositioned at least partly above the nozzle inlet(s) and/or may extendto the nozzle outlet and may be inclined towards a plane of the camerawindow or a distal front surface of the tip part. The interior roofsurface may comprise a fin projecting in the proximal direction, whichfin may be positioned centrally in a flow direction towards the nozzleoutlet.

The nozzle may comprise a nozzle floor positioned opposed to the nozzleroof in the distal direction where the nozzle floor may form part of adistal front surface of the tip part. A surface of the nozzle floor mayface outwardly, in the distal direction and/or in a front direction ofthe tip part.

Alternatively, the nozzle may not comprise such a nozzle floor. In thiscase one or more of the fluid nozzle inlets may be positioned at leastpartly directly beneath (in the distal direction) the nozzle roof. Thismay make it possible to mold the nozzle in one piece with the exteriorhousing front surface.

Lateral side walls of the nozzle may extend between and connect thenozzle roof with the nozzle floor and/or may extend between and connectthe nozzle roof with a distal front surface of the tip part. One ofthese side walls may be a back wall positioned opposed to the nozzleoutlet, and may include a transitional section providing a transitionfrom the distal front surface of the tip part to the nozzle roof.

An interior surface of this back side surface may be rounded or form acurvature, or may be non-straight and include no steps, in a transitionof a fluid flow from the fluid channel(s) to the flow ejected from thenozzle outlet towards the camera window, which may be an advantage interms of the fluid flow through the nozzle. This distal front surfacemay be parallel with the roof and may be positioned farther in thedistal direction than the nozzle roof so that the nozzle projects fromthis front surface in the distal direction. Two lateral interior sidesurfaces of associated lateral nozzle side walls provided on each sideof the back surface may be arranged to form a flow path formed as a handfan or a Japanese fan and/or a flow path of flow inside the nozzletowards the nozzle outlet may expand laterally along these lateralinterior side surfaces. Accordingly, a fluid jet ejected from the nozzleoutlet may be relatively flat in the distal-proximal direction and mayexpand towards the camera window, potentially shaped as a hand fan or aJapanese fan. Hereby, an advantageous flow path may be provided, whichmay potentially extend to an entire front surface of the camera windowand potentially of one or light windows. A flow velocity of fluid flowmay decrease towards the nozzle outlet.

The tip part may additionally or alternatively comprise a working tubewhich potentially forms part of a working channel of an endoscope. Theexterior housing may accommodate at least part of the working tube. Theworking tube may be sealed in relation to the exterior housing,potentially so that fluid in the working tube may not ingress into theinterior of the exterior housing. The working tube may include a workingoutlet opening, which may be positioned in a distal front surface of theexterior housing.

The vision receptor may comprise a vision sensor, such as an imagesensor, such as of a camera module. The vision receptor may comprise alens or a plurality of lenses potentially arranged successively andoptionally in a casing. The plurality of lenses may be arranged,potentially in a lens stack, in front of the vision sensor, potentiallyso that an optical axis of the lens, potentially of the plurality oflenses, align or coincide with an optical axis of the vision sensor. Afront or distal lens may form the camera window. The plurality of lensesmay be spaced apart by at least one spacer, potentially a plurality ofspacers. The vision receptor may comprise a printed circuit board (PCB)having at least one electrical component for converting light receivedby the vision receptor to an image. The exterior housing may accommodatea printed circuit board.

The camera window may have different shapes, such as circular, half-moonshaped etc. The camera window may comprise a plurality of window parts.The window parts may abut each other. The window parts may be fixed toeach other, potentially by gluing or welding. The camera window may formpart of the exterior housing. The camera window may be integrally formedor molded in one piece with the exterior housing. The camera window maybe formed by a lens, potentially a front lens of a lens stack, of thevision receptor in which case this lens may be positioned in an openingof the housing.

Additionally or alternatively, the camera window may be a distal frontwindow, potentially allowing the vision sensor to receive imageinformation from the distal end of the tip part. An exterior surface ofthe camera window may form part of a distal front wall of the exteriorhousing.

Additionally or alternatively, the camera window may be a side window,for instance when the endoscope is a duodenum endoscope. In this case,the front wall may be a side front wall positioned at a lateral sidesurface of the tip part. The side window may allow the vision sensor toreceive image information from a side, potentially from a radialdirection, of the tip part. The exterior surface of the window may be anexterior side surface. Accordingly, the front wall may be a side frontwall instead of a distal front wall.

Additionally or alternatively, the camera window may comprise a frontwindow and a side window. Accordingly, the front wall may be both adistal and a side front wall.

The camera window may comprise, potentially consist essentially of, atransparent material. A transparent material can transmit some imageinformation and may potentially be defined as allowing at least 50% ofvisible light entering the window at the exterior surface to passthrough the window. The transparent material may be a polymer, glass,plastic polymer, or any other suitable material, e.g. silicone, or acombination thereof.

In this specification, the term “to accommodate” may additionally oralternatively be defined as “to house” or “to enclose” or “to surround”.For instance, the exterior housing may enclose or surround the visionsensor and/or the light source.

In this specification, the terms “integrally” or “integrally provided”or “integrally comprising” or similar may be defined as the associatedfeatures forming an integral part of a whole; and/or are in one piece,potentially molded in one piece; and/or are substantially inseparable byhand.

In this specification, the term “proximal” may be defined as beingclosest to an operator of the endoscope, and the term “distal” as beingremote from the operator. The term “proximal-distal” may be defined asextending between these two extremes, in the present caseproximal-distal may extend along a center axis of the tip part extendingbetween a proximal extremity of the proximal end of the tip part and adistal extremity of the distal end of the tip part.

In this specification, the distal end of the tip part should not beconstrued to only comprise the most distal extremity of the tip part,rather the term “distal end of the tip part” should be understood as aportion of the tip part being distally positioned, e.g. a remainingportion of the tip part relative to the proximal or back end and/or aportion of the tip part for not being connected to other parts of theendoscope and/or a distally located half of the tip part. In someembodiments, the window may be a side window positioned at the distal orfront end of the tip part.

In this specification, the term “interior” may be defined as beingpositioned in an interior space of the tip part, and the term “exterior”may be defined as being positioned in an exterior space of the tip partor as not being positioned in an interior space of the tip part. Theexterior housing may include an exterior surface that forms an outersurface of the exterior housing or the tip part.

In this specification, an endoscope may be defined as a device adaptedfor viewing body cavities and/or channels of a human and/or animal body.The endoscope may for instance be a conventional flexible or steerableendoscope or a rigid endoscope or an endotracheal tube potentiallyprovided with a camera and light source for ensuring the correctposition of the endotracheal tube, for instance a laryngoscope. Theendoscope may be a duodenum endoscope or a urethroscope, or, inparticular, a gastroscope or a coloscope.

Additionally or alternatively, the vision receptor comprises a casing,potentially in the form of a lens barrel, positioned between the firstlight source and a vision sensor of the vision receptor, the casingpotentially including a light shield configured to substantially preventlight from passing through the casing.

The casing may encase the vision sensor and/or a lens or lenses of thevision receptor. The casing may extend along a proximal-distal axis ofthe tip part. The casing may be in the form of a lens barrel potentiallysubstantially having the shape of a cylindrical shell. The light shieldmay be provided in the form of a light shielding layer provided on thecasing. The light shielding layer may be provided by an adhesive,potentially hardened glue. The glue may be opaque, potentially black.

Additionally or alternatively, the camera window is positioned at adistal end of the tip part.

Additionally or alternatively, the vision receptor may comprise a lens,potentially a plurality of lenses, being arranged, potentiallysuccessively in the casing, between the vision receptor, potentially theimage sensor or vision sensor, and the camera window.

Additionally or alternatively, the lens or plurality of lenses may beprovided separately from the camera window. Additionally oralternatively, the lens or plurality of lenses is not an integral partof the camera window. Additionally or alternatively, the lens orplurality of lenses is made of a material different from a material ofthe camera window.

Additionally or alternatively, the camera window comprises a first lightguide positioned in front of the first light source, potentiallydirectly in front of the first light source.

Additionally or alternatively, The first light guide may be of atransparent material, potentially the same material as the window. Thefirst light guide may have a predetermined length between at least onefirst light reception end adapted for receiving light from the firstlight source and at least one second light emission end adapted to emitlight. The first light guide may form an integral part of the exteriorhousing and/or the camera window. By integrating the light guide in theexterior housing, it becomes possible to provide a sealed front end ofthe tip part and at the same time provide a well-defined exit viewingangle for the light from the light source.

In an embodiment, the front wall and the circumferential wall areintegrally molded in one piece with each other, and the front wall andthe nozzle are integrally molded in one piece with each other.

Alternatively, either the front wall and the circumferential wall areintegrally molded in one piece with each other or the front wall and thenozzle are integrally molded in one piece with each other.

In an embodiment, two fluid channels for providing fluid to the nozzleare formed integrally in one piece with the exterior housing.

The two fluid channels for providing fluid to the nozzle may be moldedintegrally in one piece with the exterior housing.

A first of the two fluid channels may be for gas, a second for liquid.

The first fluid channel may extend farther towards the nozzle in thedistal-proximal direction than the second fluid channel.

An inner diameter or largest cross section of one or both fluid channelsmay be 1.3 to 1.9 mm or 1.4 to 1.8 mm or 1.5 to 1.7 mm.

A fluid tube, which may alternatively be denoted a fluid pipe, may bepositioned in each of the fluid channels. Each tube may extend throughthe tip part, potentially to respective fluid sources. Each tube may beprovided separately from or not in one piece with the exterior housing.A first of the fluid tubes may be for gas, a second of the fluid tubesmay be for liquid.

Positioning of tubes in the fluid channels may occur subsequent tomanufacture of the exterior housing including the nozzle and potentiallythe camera window. The tubes may be inserted into the fluid channels ina distal to proximal direction, potentially through a proximallypositioned opening of the exterior housing.

The first fluid tube may extend farther towards the nozzle in thedistal-proximal direction than the second fluid tube.

An outer diameter or largest outer cross section of an outer surface ofeach fluid tube may correspond to the diameter or largest cross sectionof each corresponding fluid channel and may accordingly be 1.3 to 1.9 mmor 1.4 to 1.8 mm or 1.5 to 1.7 mm. An inner diameter or largest innercross section may be 1 to 1.4 mm or 1.1 to 1.3 mm.

One or both tubes may have a constant diameter along its/theirlength(s). The tubes may be flexible and may comprise or consist of aplastic or polymer material, such as PET, PE or PP. The tubes may betubular and may be cylindrical.

In a further development of the present embodiment, the nozzle comprisesat least part of a fluid joint, the fluid joint joining flow pathsextending through the fluid channels.

The fluid joint may join outlets from the fluid channels or fluid tubes.

The fluid joint may be formed and/or molded integrally in one piece withthe exterior housing.

Including the fluid joint in the tip part may generally make it possibleto enable e.g. an insertion tube of an endoscope, which may be acritical dimension, to be smaller in the radial direction.

The fluid joint may be at least partly formed by the nozzle, and/or thetwo fluid flow paths may be joined at least partly within the nozzle.This may save space within the exterior housing, making it possible toprovide a tip part with a smaller radial extent. Alternatively, afurther fluid tube or channel collecting the two fluid paths may extendfrom the tube joint to the nozzle.

Providing the fluid joint integrally, potentially molded integrally, inone piece with the exterior housing, potentially with either of or bothof the exterior housing front surface and circumferential wall, mayshorten the dead space in the tubes and may also make it possible to mixgas and liquid, potentially within the nozzle.

In another or further development of the present embodiment, at leastpart of the two fluid channels extend side-by-side and include an openslot extending longitudinally between them.

The open slot may allow for the two fluid tubes to be positioned closeto, potentially abutting, each other along a longitudinal direction whenthe fluid tubes are positioned in the fluid channels.

Potentially, parts of the fluid channels along a longitudinal directionmay be coinciding and/or parts of circumferential walls may be removedfrom the cut-outs where the fluid channels intersect each other.Accordingly, outlets from two fluid tubes and/or the inlets of thenozzle may be shaped like the number “8”, especially if the fluid tubeshave a rounded or circular cross section. This embodiment may make itpossible to minimize dimensions of the fluid channels and/or fluid tubessince they are positioned very close to each other. This may, in turn,allow for a reduction of a total cross-sectional or radial extent of thetip part and/or the exterior housing.

This embodiment may also make it possible or at least easier to mold thefluid channels since there is a connection between them.

Another or further development of the present embodiment comprises twofluid tubes provided separately from the fluid channels, wherein one ofthe two fluid tubes is positioned in each of the two fluid channels.

The fluid tubes may be provided as any one of the fluid tubes describedpreviously.

In another or further development of the present embodiment, a fluidoutlet from each of the fluid tubes terminates at or in the nozzle sothat they form fluid inlets into the nozzle.

The fluid tubes may terminate to form the joint described previously.

In an embodiment, a distal front surface of the tip part includes thecamera window, two fluid inlets extending into the nozzle, and a workingchannel opening, wherein the camera window, the two fluid inlets, andthe working channel window are equally distributed on the front surfacein a circumferential direction of the tip part.

In an embodiment, a first nozzle fluid inlet to the nozzle is positionedcloser to the camera window than a second nozzle fluid inlet to thenozzle.

The first fluid inlet may be for gas, and the second fluid inlet may befor liquid.

The nozzle may generally be suitable for ejection of both gas andliquid. The nozzle outlet may generally be for ejection of both gas andliquid.

A fluid flow path within the nozzle for fluid from the second nozzleinlet may cross a fluid flow path within the nozzle for fluid from thefirst nozzle inlet.

This embodiment may especially be combined with one or more of theoptions regarding the shape of the interior nozzle surfaces defining thefluid flow. A rounded shape of a flow path of the gas may generally beless important than that for the flow path of the liquid.

The nozzle fluid inlets may be positioned next to each other along astraight line in a cross-sectional or radial direction of the tip part,and the nozzle outlet may also be positioned along this line. The nozzlegas inlet may be positioned between the nozzle liquid inlet and thenozzle outlet. Hereby, the liquid flow path may intersect the gas flowpath within the nozzle. A camera window center part may also bepositioned along the line, allowing fluid to be sprayed from the nozzleoutlet to the camera window.

The nozzle outlet may generally face and provide a flow path from theoutlet along or in a cross-sectional or radial direction of the tippart. This may allow the flow from the nozzle outlet to reach the camerawindow.

An embodiment of the tip part further comprises a window part positionedat or in the front wall, wherein the window part comprises the camerawindow, and the window part is formed of a second polymer material, thesecond polymer material being different from said one polymer material.

The second polymer material being different from said one polymermaterial may involve that a composition of the two polymer materials isdifferent and/or that the one polymer material comprises at least onecomponent not included in the second polymer material, or reversely. Forexample, the one polymer material may comprise a polymer not included inthe second polymer material, and/or reversely, and/or the one polymermaterial may comprise a specific polymer in one amount and the secondpolymer material comprises the same specific polymer in a differentamount. Various physical or chemical properties, such as melting pointand/or adhesive properties may similarly be different in the two polymermaterials.

Alternatively, the window part is formed of the same material as theexterior housing, i.e. of the said one polymer material, which may inthis case be transparent and/or translucent.

The window part may form part of the exterior housing or may be providedseparately from the exterior housing.

The exterior housing may have been or may be manufactured in atwo-component molding process, whereby the window part or camera windowcan potentially be said to be integrally molded in one piece with thefront wall, the circumferential wall, and the nozzle.

The window part may be positioned in a cut-out of the distal end walland/or may extend into a cut-out of the circumferential wall.

The window part may further include one or more, such as two, lightwindows for distribution of light from light sources positioned withinthe spacing of the exterior housing. The camera window and the lightwindow(s) may be integrally formed in one piece with each other, thelight window(s) potentially being integrally molded in one piece withthe camera window.

The window part and/or the camera window may be transparent and/ortranslucent. The light window(s) may similarly be transparent and/ortranslucent and/or may allow light from an object to be investigated topass through the light window(s) to illuminate the object to beinvestigated. The object to be investigated will typically be providedin front of or distal to the front wall, the camera window, and thelight window(s).

The camera window may generally be positioned with a center line of thecamera window coinciding with a center line of a distal front surface ofthe tip part or of the exterior housing. Two light windows may bepositioned one on each side of the camera window, potentially with anequal distance to the center lines.

The nozzle may be provided, and the nozzle outlet positioned, so that anozzle fluid jet ejected from the nozzle may, potentially directly,reach both the camera window and the light window(s).

An embodiment of the tip part further comprises a light guide positionedin front of a light source.

The light guide may be positioned behind or proximally from the lightwindow of the previous embodiment.

One or further light guides may be provided, each potentially beingpositioned behind or proximally from a light window.

The window part of the previous embodiment may comprise the lightguide(s). The light guide(s) may thus be formed of the second polymermaterial.

Alternatively, the light guide is provided separately from the windowpart and/or of the same material as the exterior housing, i.e. of thesaid one polymer material, which may in this case be transparent.

The light guide(s) may form part of the exterior housing or may beprovided separately from the exterior housing.

The exterior housing may have been or may be manufactured in atwo-component molding process, whereby the window part including thelight guide(s) can potentially be said to be integrally molded in onepiece with the front wall, the circumferential wall, and the nozzle.

The light window may be a distal end of the light guide.

The light guide(s) may extend in a proximal direction into the interiorspacing of the exterior housing.

The camera window and/or the light window(s) and/or the light guide(s)may be integrally formed in one piece with each other, these partspotentially being integrally molded in one piece. The light guide(s) aretransparent.

In another aspect, the present disclosure involves a method ofmanufacture of tip part for forming a tip of a disposable insertionendoscope, wherein the tip part comprises: an exterior housing having anopen proximal end for connection to other parts of the vision device,such as an insertion tube of an endoscope, the housing further having afront wall, wherein a circumferential wall of the housing extends from adistal end of the housing to the proximal end of the housing, thecircumferential wall and the front wall enclosing an interior spacingaccommodating a vision receptor able to provide an image from lightreceived from an object to be investigated; and a camera windowpositioned at least partly in front of the vision sensor, the camerawindow being positioned in, positioned in front of, or forming part ofthe front wall so that light received from the object can pass throughthe window to the vision sensor; wherein the housing further comprises anozzle for flushing an exterior surface of the window with a liquidtransferred to the nozzle through a liquid conduit extending from theproximal end of the housing, through the interior spacing, and to thenozzle; said method comprising: integrally molding the exterior housingin one piece so that the front wall and the circumferential wall aremolded in one piece with each other and so that the front wall and thenozzle are integrally molded in one piece with each other.

The present disclosure also involves a method of manufacture of tip partfor forming the distal tip of a disposable insertion endoscope, whereinthe tip part comprises: an exterior housing having an open proximal endfor connection to other parts of the vision device, such as an insertiontube of an endoscope, the housing further having a front wall, wherein acircumferential wall of the housing extends from a distal end of thehousing to the proximal end of the housing, the circumferential wall andthe front wall enclosing an interior spacing accommodating a visionsensor able to provide an image from light received from an object to beinvestigated; and a camera window positioned at least partly in front ofthe vision sensor, the camera window being positioned in, positioned infront of, or forming part of the front wall so that light received fromthe object can pass through the window to the vision sensor; wherein thehousing further comprises a nozzle for flushing an exterior surface ofthe window with a liquid transferred to the nozzle through a liquidconduit extending from the proximal end of the housing, through theinterior spacing, and to the nozzle; said method comprising the step of:integrally forming the exterior housing in one piece so that the frontwall and the circumferential wall are formed in one piece with eachother and so that the front wall and the nozzle are integrally formed inone piece with each other.

The methods according to this aspect of the present disclosure may bemethods of manufacture of a tip part according to any one, or anycombination, of any one of the embodiments of tip parts as disclosedherein. The methods according to this aspect of the present disclosuremay additionally or alternatively comprise any of the further methodsteps as disclosed herein, including those disclosed in relation to thetip parts of the present disclosure.

The molding step may involve or consist of injection molding. Injectionmolding is typically efficient in terms of quick reproduction ofidentical items.

The first and/or second material may be selected from thermoplasticmaterials, thermoset materials, and elastomers. The second material maycomprise or consist of a transparent material. The first material may beopaque at least in a set condition. The first material and said onepolymer material may also be selected for other properties, such as goodadhesion to sealant materials and adhesives. Thus, the set firstmaterial may have better adhesion properties to glue than the secondmaterial or the second polymer material.

The second material may be transparent and/or may include the camerawindow and potentially one or more light windows and/or may be providedas disclosed herein with respect to the description of the tip parts ofthis disclosure.

The methods according to this disclosure may comprise introduction orpositioning of one or more components, such as tubes, the vision sensor,the vision receptor, light sources etc., into the spacing of theexterior housing, optionally subsequent to manufacture of the exteriorhousing.

The methods according to this aspect of the present disclosure mayfurther comprise the steps of, and/or a method of manufacture of the tipparts according to this disclosure may comprise: providing a moldingtool; introducing a first melted material into the molding tool, whereinthe first material may be said one polymer material on a melted form;introducing at least one second melted material different from the firstmaterial into the molding tool, wherein the second material may be saidsecond polymer material on a melted form; allowing the second materialto set and form a combined external housing with the first material; andremoving the combined external housing from the molding tool.

This may allow the provision of an integrated unit for the tip externalhousing having different areas with different desired properties;specifically, the second material may form the camera window andpotentially one or more light windows.

The molding tool may comprise a first cavity, a second cavity, and oneor more cores. If applying injection molding, this may be advantageoussince the molded object may shrink during cooling and therefore may tendto stick to the core. The first material may be allowed to set or partlyset before the second material is introduced. This may providewell-defined boundaries between the two materials in the finalintegrated unit. Moreover, it may allow the first mold to stick to thecore for the introduction into the second cavity of the molding tool.The volume of the second material introduced in the mold may be smallerthan a volume of the first material introduced into the mold. This maybe of advantage if the second material is more brittle than the firstmaterial because having a smaller volume thereof will make it less proneto stick to the mold due to shrinking, thereby making it easier toextract from the mold. Accordingly, the second material may also beinjected at higher pressure than the first material because a highpressure used for the first material will make it more prone to stickingto the mold and/or core(s), in turn making removal more difficult.Accordingly, the introduction of the first and/or the second materialmay form part of an injection molding process.

The second material may comprise or consist of a transparent material.Injecting the transparent material as the second material may beadvantageous because transparent materials, which are preferred fortheir optical properties, may then be introduced under higher pressurethan the first material. This, in turn, may reduce shrinking and mayprovide improved control of the optical properties of the manufacturedtip part. The second material, which may be more brittle, may generallyconstitute only a minor part of the total material of the exteriorhousing. This may make it is easier to remove the exterior housing fromthe mold. The first material may accordingly be opaque at least in itsset form. The first material and said one polymer material mayalternatively or additionally be selected for other properties, such asgood adhesion to sealant materials and adhesives. Thus, the set firstmaterial may have better adhesion properties to glue than the secondmaterial or the second polymer material. The first cavity and the secondcavity may have generally cylindrical shapes. This may result in agenerally cylindrical exterior housing which, in turn, may be suitablefor endoscopes made with the tip part according to the presentinvention.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of integrallymolding the exterior housing and the camera window in one piece witheach other in a multi-component molding process, in which moldingprocess the exterior housing and the camera window are manufactured fromtwo different materials.

Alternatively, in such a multi-component molding process, the windowpart is formed of the same material as the exterior housing, i.e. of thesaid one polymer material, which may in this case be transparent and/ortranslucent. In this case, either the exterior housing or the camerawindow may be manufactured with master batch, the other without.

In another aspect, the present disclosure involves an endoscopecomprising a tip part according to any one of the embodiments of tipparts disclosed herein and/or comprising a tip part manufacturedaccording to any one of the embodiments of methods of manufacture of atip part as disclosed herein.

The endoscope may be a disposable insertion endoscope. The endoscope mayinclude one or more features as described herein in the above, includingthe features described in the above introduction to this description,and in connection with the description of the methods and tip partsaccording to the present disclosure.

The endoscope may comprise an elongated insertion tube with a handle atthe proximal end. The tip part may be positioned at the distal end ofthe elongated insertion tube. The tip part may further comprise abending section positioned between the tip part and the elongatedinsertion tube. The bending section may be configured to be articulatedto maneuver the endoscope inside a body cavity.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that any one or more of theabove aspects of this disclosure and embodiments thereof may be combinedwith any one or more of the other aspects and embodiments thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, non-limiting exemplary embodiments will be describedin greater detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a disposable insertion endoscope accordingto the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 a shows a front perspective view of a tip part of the endoscopeof FIG. 1 structured with a cutout adapted to receive a window;

FIG. 2 b shows the front perspective view of the tip part of FIG. 2 aand including the window;

FIG. 3 shows a rear perspective view of the tip part of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the tip part of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 5 a shows cross-sectional side view of the tip part of FIG. 2 ataken along the line V-V in FIG. 6 , including an enlarged portion shownin FIG. 5 b;

FIG. 5 b shows an enlarged view of a portion of the cross-sectional sideview of FIG. 5 a;

FIG. 6 a shows an enlarged portion of a front view of the tip part ofFIG. 2 a shown in FIG. 6 b ; and

FIG. 6 b shows a front view of the tip part of FIG. 2 a , including theenlarged portion thereof shown in FIG. 6 a;

FIG. 7 a shows an enlarged portion of a rear view of the tip part ofFIG. 2 shown in FIG. 7 b;

FIG. 7 b shows a rear view of the tip part of FIG. 2 , including theenlarged portion thereof shown in FIG. 7 a;

FIG. 8 a is a perspective view of a camera;

FIG. 8 b is a cross-sectional view of the camera of FIG. 8 a;

FIG. 9 a is a perspective view of a bending section connected to the tippart; and

FIG. 9 b is a exploded perspective view of a portion of the bendingsection and the camera.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an endoscope 1 including a distal tip with a tip part 2,the tip part 2 being an embodiment of the tip part according to thefirst aspect of the present disclosure. The tip part is manufacturedaccording to the method of the present disclosure. The endoscope 1 maybe disposable or designed for single-use and may be used in a variety ofprocedures from which the endoscope 1 takes its procedural name, such asgastroscope, but the endoscope 1 could also be used for other medicalpurposes.

In many respects, the endoscope 1 is of conventional design. Forexample, the handle, insertion tube, and camera (discussed below) may beof conventional design, except for the addition of the tubes and relatedcomponents provided to supply fluids to the nozzle (discussed below).The tip part 2 is positioned at a distal end 3 a of an elongatedinsertion tube 4 of the endoscope 1. The insertion tube 4 is at aproximal end 3 b connected to a handle 5, which includes a controlbutton 6 for controlling bending of a bending section 7 positioned nearthe tip part 2. In the shown embodiment, the bending section 7 ispositioned between the tip part 2 and the insertion tube 4. The bendingsection 7 is configured to be articulated to maneuver the endoscope 1inside a body cavity. An example of the bending section 7 is describedwith reference to FIGS. 9 a and 9 b . The handle 5 may be connected tofluid hoses (not shown) for supplying fluids from fluid supply sources,e.g. liquid and gas or air, to the tip part 2. The fluid supply sourcesmay include one or more fluid pumps or other fluid drive means. Theendoscope 1 or the insertion tube 4 defines a proximal-distal directiondenoted as “PD” in FIG. 1 . A cable 8 having a connector 8 a is providedto electrically couple the endoscope 1 to a video monitor which isconfigured to display video images obtained with a vision sensor 36(shown in FIG. 8 b ) of the endoscope 1.

FIGS. 2 a to 7 show different views of the tip part 2. Referring toFIGS. 2 a, 2 b , and 3, the tip part 2 includes an exterior housing 9having an open proximal end 9 a for connection to the more proximallypositioned parts of the endoscope 1. The housing 9 further comprises adistal or front wall 11, wherein a cylindrically shaped circumferentialwall 12 extends from a distal end 9 b to the proximal end 9 a of thehousing 9. The circumferential wall 12 and the front wall 11 enclose aninterior spacing 24 accommodating a camera 30 (shown in FIGS. 8 a and 8b ) including the vision sensor 36 and able to provide an image fromlight received from an object to be investigated. The front wall 11 ispositioned oppositely from the proximal end 9 a of the housing 9. Thecircumferential wall 12 extends from the front wall 11 to the proximalend 9 a of the housing 9.

The housing 9 further comprises a nozzle 15 provided at the distal endof the tip part 2 for flushing an exterior surface 18 a of a camerawindow 18 with a liquid transferred to the nozzle 15 from the fluidsources. The liquid flows through fluid tubes 21, 22 extending from thehandle 5 to the nozzle 15. The nozzle 15 is a liquid nozzle for ejectionof liquid and also functions as a gas nozzle for ejection of gas, asdescribed further below.

The front wall 11 and the circumferential wall 12 may be integrallymolded from one polymer material in one piece. The front wall 11 and thenozzle 15, similarly, may be integrally molded from said one polymermaterial in one piece. The front wall 11, the circumferential wall 12,and the nozzle 15 may be integrally molded from one polymer material inone piece. The front wall and the circumferential wall can be also bemolded separately and then bonded together to form a one-piece part.Said one polymer material is opaque and consists of, or comprises orconsists essentially of, a thermoplastic polymer. A window component 14(discussed below) is manufactured of a second polymer material which istransparent and similarly comprises a thermoplastic polymer.

In FIG. 2 a the front wall 11 and the circumferential wall 12 include acutout 9 b for the window component 14, which is inserted in the cutout,as shown in FIG. 2 b , and includes light windows 19 located on eitherside of the camera window 18. Cutout 9 b comprises a cutout 12 c on thecircumferential wall 12 and a cutout 11 b on the front wall 11.Therefore the front surface of the tip part comprises a portion providedby the front wall 11 and a portion provided by the window component 14.Alternatively stated, the front wall 11 includes an opaque portion and atransparent portion comprised by the window component 14. The lightsource windows 19 allow light to be emitted by light sources toilluminate the object under observation.

The exterior housing 9 is generally cup-shaped, the cup being formed bythe front wall 11 and the circumferential wall 12. The circumferentialwall 12 is a circumferentially extending cylindrical wall which has agenerally cylindrical outer surface 12 a and includes a step 12 b forpositioning of a flexible external sleeve or outer sheath 4 a whichextends over the bending section 7 to the step 12 b, surrounding part ofthe tip part 2.

The front wall 11 of the housing 9 includes a liquid and gas outlet 16 a(shown in FIG. 5 b ) located distally of the liquid tube 21 and gas tube22, which is an opening in the front wall 11 for introducing liquid andgas into the nozzle 15. The front wall 11 of the housing 9 also includesa working channel opening 17 and a water jet outlet 10 for ejecting awater jet for rinsing tissue. The tip part 2 also comprises a workingtube 13 a (further described with reference to FIG. 7 b ) defining aworking channel opening 17 positioned in the distal front surface of thetip part 2.

The tip part 2 of the endoscope 1 further comprises the bending section7, shown in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b , which has a distal end segment 41,intermediate segments 42, and a proximal end segment 43 interconnectedby articulated sections 44 therebetween, the distal end segment 41 isconnected to the proximal end 9 a of the housing 9. An internal support38 may be used to support the camera 30 inside the housing 9. Theinternal support 38 (shown in FIG. 9 b ) may include a proximal jointportion operable to form a joint with a complementary portion in thedistal end segment 41 of the bending section.

Referring to FIG. 2 b , the camera window 18 is positioned in the frontwall 11 in front of the camera 30 so that light received from the objectcan pass through the camera window 18 to reach the vision sensor of thecamera 30 as is conventional in endoscopes. The light windows 19 arepositioned on the sides of the camera window 18 to permit lightemissions therethrough to illuminate the object.

The camera window front surface 18 a of the camera window 18 extendsalong the distal end surface of the tip part 2 in a plane common with afront surface 11 a of the front wall 11. The window component 14 is alsopositioned so that its side surface extends into the circumferentialwall 12 to have the side surface completing the cylindrical externalsurface of the circumferential wall 12. The window component 14 canpotentially be said to form part of the exterior housing 9, a frontsurface of the window component 14 forming part of a front surface ofthe housing 9 or the front wall 11 thereof, and the side surface of thewindow component 14 forming part of the circumferential side surface ofthe housing 9 or the circumferential wall 12. Alternatively, the windowcomponent 14 can be said to be positioned in a cut-out 11 b of thedistal end wall 11 and extending into a cut-out 12 c of thecircumferential wall 12.

The window component 14 and the exterior housing 9 may be integrallymolded in one piece by a multi-component molding process according tothe methods of the second aspect of this disclosure, whereby the windowcomponent is integrally molded in one piece with the front wall 11, thecircumferential wall 12, and the nozzle 15.

Alternatively, the window component provides side windows instead of thefront windows discussed previously, for instance if the endoscope were aduodenum endoscope. In this variation, the camera is positioned with itsoptical axis aligned in a radial direction rather than the longitudinaldirection. The side camera window is positioned in a cutout on thecircumferential wall to allow the vision receptor to receive lightreflected from an object located on a side of the tip part 2. The windowcomponent may also include light windows on the side and/or front of thetip part.

Referring to FIGS. 2 a, 2 b , and 3, fluid tubes 21 and 22 extendthrough the insertion tube 4 and are connectable to fluid sources (notshown) as described above. The fluids include liquid and gas. The liquidmay be water and the gas may be carbon dioxide (CO₂). The fluids areejected from the nozzle 15 to flush and clean at least part of thecamera window front surface 18 a of the camera window 18.

The nozzle 15 may be formed integrally with the front wall 11 as asingle piece of the first polymer material. The first polymer materialmay be opaque, which limits stray light and glare from reaching thevision sensor. The first polymer material may have better adhesionproperties to glue than the second polymer material to allow thecircumferential wall 12 to adhere efficiently to a sealing glue sealingthe interior spacing and for the outer sheath 4 a to be securely adheredto the part of exterior surface of the circumferential wall 12 extendingproximally from the step 12 b. The first and second polymer materialsare thermoplastic polymer materials which allows the exterior housing 9and the window component 14 to be produced by injection molding in saidtwo-component molding process with a liquid-tight seal formed at thejuncture of the exterior housing 9 and the window component 14.Additionally, assembly of the tip part 2 is made simpler since fewerparts are required.

The distal exterior surface of the tip part 2, or front surface 11 a, issubstantially planar, the nozzle 15 projecting in a front or distaldirection from a plane of the front surface. The circumferential wall 12extends from this front surface in the proximal-distal direction, PD,shown in FIG. 1 . The front wall 11 extends in a direction transverse tothe direction PD.

Referring to FIGS. 5 a and 5 b , the exterior housing 9 is formed withtube cavities, or channels 16 and 23, sized and shaped to receive thedistal ends of the fluid tubes 21 and 22. In one example, the distalends of the fluid tubes 21 and 22 form liquid and gas inlets 15 a, 15 bfor the nozzle 15. In another example, the liquid and gas inlets 15 a,15 b are molded in one piece with the exterior housing 9 distally of thetube cavities, and the fluid tubes 20, 21 are inserted into the tubecavities 16, 23 to be adjacent the liquid and gas inlets. In eithercase, the fluid tubes provide fluid communication between the fluidsources and the liquid and gas inlets.

The tubes 21, 22 are positioned in an associated one of the channels 16,23. Each tube 21, 22 extends from the tip part 2 to an associated fluidsource as described above. Positioning of tubes 21, 22 in the channels16, 23 occurs after molding of the exterior housing 9, the nozzle 15 andthe camera window 14. The tubes 21, 22 are after this molding insertedinto the fluid channels 16, 23 in the direction PD through the proximalopening 9 a of the exterior housing 9. As shown, the gas tube 22 extendsfurther distally than liquid tube 21.

The tubes 21, 22 each has a constant diameter, are flexible, and consistof a plastic polymer material with a tubular and cylindrical outershape. An outer diameter of an outer surface of each fluid tube 21, 22may be between about 1.3 to 1.9 mm, or 1.4 to 1.8 mm, or 1.5 to 1.7 mm,and preferrably about 1.6 mm. An inner diameter of each fluid tube 21,22 may be between about 1.0 to 1.4 mm, or 1.1 to 1.3 mm, and preferrablyabout 1.2 mm.

The nozzle 15 includes the two fluid inlets mentioned above, in the formof a liquid inlet 15 a and a gas inlet 15 b. The nozzle 15 also includesa nozzle outlet 15 c and a nozzle roof 15 d extending across and spacedapart from the liquid and gas inlets 15 a, 15 b. The nozzle roof 15 dhas a nozzle roof edge 15 e which defines, together with a front walledge 11 c of the front wall 11, the nozzle outlet 15 c. An interior roofsurface 15 f extends to the nozzle roof edge 15 e. The fluids dischargedthrough the fluid inlets 15 a, 15 b impinge on and are redirected by theinterior roof surface 15 f toward the nozzle roof edge 15 e. The nozzleroof 15 d may extend toward the camera window 18 sufficiently such thatin overlaps the front wall edge 11 c. The nozzle roof 15 d and theinterior roof surface 15 f may be angled toward the front wall surface11 a. The fluid inlets 15 a, 15 b can be considered as being at leastpartly coinciding with the fluid outlet 16 a of the front wall 11 or asformed by outlets of associated liquid and gas tubes 21, 22.

The shape of the nozzle roof 15 d and the corresponding nozzle outlet 15c, together with liquid and gas pressure and flow, can be designed andcontrolled to effect different fluid plumes for different effects.Ejection of the water from the nozzle 15 can be used for flushing andcleaning at least part of the camera window front surface 18 a. Ejectedgas can be used for cleaning remaining liquid on the camera window frontsurface 18 a off after flushing with water. The ejected gas can also beused for expanding a fluid volume or for accelerating or otherwiseaffecting the liquid flow and/or the liquid flushing process.

The nozzle outlet 15 c faces toward the camera window 18 and has a depthin the PD direction and a width measured along a plane perpendicular tothe PD direction. The nozzle outlet 15 c profile may be rectangularlyshaped with rounded corners, see FIG. 4 . The nozzle outlet 15 c has,when seen towards the distal front surface of the front wall 11, anoutwardly rounded shape which forms a circle section, which increases anopening area of the outlet opening compared to if the shape were linear,see FIG. 6 .

The nozzle outlet 15 c has a small depth, measured from the bottom edge11 c to the roof edge 15 e, compared to its width. The depth may bebetween about 0.15-0.25 mm, preferrably about 0.20 mm, and the width maybe between about 1.4-1.8 mm, preferrably about 1.6 mm, resulting in adepth to width ratio of between 1:5.6-1:12 and preferrably about 1:8.The shape of the nozzle outlet 15 c provides a flat, hand fan shapedfluid jet that can be used to flush the entire camera window frontsurface 18 a and the front surfaces of the light windows 19. Asmentioned, the inner diameter of one or both tubes 20, 21 may be betweenabout 1.3 to 1.9 mm, or 1.4 to 1.8 mm, or 1.5 to 1.7 mm. Accordingly,the inner diameters are about the same size as the width of the nozzle,+/−20%.

The interior roof surface 15 f may also comprise a fin (not shown)projecting in the proximal direction and positioned centrally in a flowdirection towards the nozzle outlet 15 c. The fin, or a plurality ofthem, may be added to better control fluid distribution and ensure thefluids are evenly distributed on both sides of the fin(s).

The nozzle may, in other embodiments, comprise a nozzle floor positionedopposed to the interior roof surface in the distal direction where thenozzle floor may form part of a distal front surface of the front wall11. A surface of such a nozzle floor may face outwardly in the distaldirection and/or in a front direction of the tip part 2.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the nozzle does not comprisesuch a nozzle floor. Instead, as described, the nozzle inlets 15 a, 15 bare positioned proximally of the nozzle roof 15 d. This makes it moreconvenient to mold the nozzle 15 in one piece with the front wall 11.

As seen in FIGS. 5 b and 6 a , the nozzle 15 has three lateral sidewalls 15 g, 15 h, 15 i, extending between and connecting the nozzle roof15 d with the front wall 11 of the tip part 2. Side walls 15 g, 15 i arelateral side walls that define the width of the nozzle outlet 15 c, andside wall 15 h is a back side wall positioned opposed to the nozzleoutlet 15 c and includes a transitional section providing a bent orinclined transition from the distal front surface of the tip part 2 to arear end of the nozzle roof 15 d, see e.g. FIG. 5 . An interior surfaceof this back side wall 15 h is rounded and forms a curvature in atransition of a fluid flow from the fluid channel(s) to the flow ejectedfrom the nozzle outlet 15 c towards the camera window 18. Two lateralinterior side surfaces of the associated lateral nozzle side walls 15 g,15 i are provided on each side of said back surface and are, asmentioned, arranged to form an ejected flow formed as a hand fan or aJapanese fan, see FIG. 6 . A flow path of fluid flow inside the nozzle15 towards the nozzle outlet 15 c expands laterally to these lateralinterior side surfaces. Accordingly, a fluid jet ejected from the nozzleoutlet 15 c is relatively flat in the depth direction PD and expandstowards the camera window 18, shaped as a hand fan or a Japanese fanwhen the fluid is ejected. Hereby, the flow path extends to cover thecamera window 18, preferrably the entire front surface of the camerawindow 18, and the light windows 19. The flow velocity of fluid flowdecreases towards the nozzle outlet 15 c.

Referring to FIG. 6 b , axis X and Y are shown. Axis X and Y areorthogonal and are drawn on a plane passing through the front surface ofthe window component 14. Axis X and Y intersect at the centerline of thedistal tip. Axis Y bisects the camera window 18. A line V-V is shownwhich is a projection of a plane traversing and bisecting the nozzle 15.The two light windows 19 are positioned one on each side of the camerawindow 18, symmetrically with respect to and with an equal distance tothe Y axis. As shown, the line V passes approximately through the centerof the camera window 18. The side walls 15 g and 15 i define the widthof a narrow end of a plume of fluid that is used to clean the camerawindow 18. The side walls 15 g and 15 i can be angled and separatedenough to create a plume that covers the majority (at least 50%) of thelight source windows 19.

The gas inlet 15 b to the nozzle 15 is positioned closer to the camerawindow 18 than the liquid inlet 15 a to the nozzle 15. The nozzle 15inlets are positioned next to each other along the straight line V-V ina cross-sectional direction of the tip part 2, and the nozzle outlet 15c is also positioned along this line V-V. The nozzle 15 gas inlet 15 bis positioned between the nozzle liquid inlet 15 a and the nozzle outlet15 c. Hereby, the liquid flow path intersects the gas flow path withinthe nozzle 15. The camera window 18 is also positioned along this lineV-V, allowing fluid to be sprayed from the nozzle outlet 15 c directlytowards the camera window 18. A fluid jet ejected from the nozzle 15 candirectly reach both the camera window 18 and the light windows 19.

The nozzle outlet 15 c faces and provides a flow path from the outlet 15c along a cross-sectional direction of the tip part 2. This allows theflow from the nozzle outlet 15 c to reach the camera window part 18.

The distal front surface of the tip part 2 includes the camera window18, the two fluid inlets from the tubes 21, 22 extending into the nozzle15, and the working channel opening 17, wherein the camera window 18,the two fluid inlets, and the working channel opening 17 are equallydistributed on the distal front surface in a circumferential directionof the tip part 2.

Flow simulations based on the design of the tip part 2 as described inconnection with the drawings have shown that the tip part 2 provides anadvantageous ejection of a liquid jet from the nozzle through the nozzleoutlet opening. The liquid jet has at suitable fluid flow speeds arelatively small depth and a hand fan shape as described above. Onlylittle turbulence was observed in the results of the simulations bothwithin and outside the nozzle 15.

Referring to FIGS. 7 a and 7 b , the window component 14 includes thecamera window 18 positioned in front of the vision sensor positionedwithin the tip part 2 and two light windows 19 extending to bepositioned in front of two light sources 32 (shown in FIGS. 8 a and 8 b), e.g. light emitting diodes (LEDs), which are positioned within thetip part 2, see e.g. FIG. 6 b . The light windows 19 are fordistribution of light from the LEDs positioned within the spacing of theexterior housing 9. The camera window 18 and the light windows 19 areintegrally molded in one piece with each other. As shown, the lightwindows 19 each includes a light guide 20 (best seen in FIG. 8 b ),which each extends proximally from the distal font surface of the lightwindows 19 towards each of the two LEDs. One LED is positioned at aproximal end of each light guide 20. The camera window 18 and the lightwindows 19, including the light guides 20, are integrally molded in onepiece with each other from the said second polymer material. The lightguides 20 are transparent and convey and control light from the LEDs.Examples and additional details pertaining to the light guides and thewindow component are disclosed in commonly-owned U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/351,632, titled “A TIP PART FOR A VISION DEVICE”, filed onMar. 13, 201, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The tip part 2 also comprises a working tube 13 a positioned in theworking channel 13. The exterior housing 9 accommodates part of theworking tube 13 a which further extends distally to the handle 5. Theworking tube 13 a is sealed in relation to the exterior housing so thatfluid in the working tube 13 a will not ingress into the other interiorspacing parts of the exterior housing 9. The working tube 13 a includesthe working outlet opening 17, which is positioned in the distal frontsurface of the tip part 2.

The nozzle 15 comprises a fluid joint formed by the side walls 15 i, 15g, 15 h and the nozzle roof 15 d as well as outlets from the tubes 21,22. The fluid joint forms a joint spacing coinciding with the fluidoutlet 16 a in which the flow paths of liquid and gas extending throughthe tubes 21, 22 are joined. Hereby, the liquid and gas can be mixed inthe fluid joint.

The channels 16, 23 are formed by proximally extending walls 11 e, 11 e′and 11 f, 11 f and extend side-by-side. An open slot 25 extends betweenthem from an internal channel surface 11 g to an internal channelsurface 11 g′. The distal ends of the tubes 21, 22 are positioned in thechannels 16, 23, the tubes abutting each other in the slot 25 along thedirection PD. Accordingly, and as best seen in FIG. 7 b , the outletsfrom the two tubes 21, 22 are shaped like the number “8”.

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b are perspective views of a conventional camera 30including a lens barrel 31, LEDs 32, a circuit board 33 connecting theLEDs 32 to a cable 34, circuit components 35, and a vision sensor 36.The circuit board 33 may be a flexible or printed circuit board. Thecable may be a flat cable which can also be part of the circuit board33. The circuit components include passive components provided toregulate voltages for the LEDs 32 or vision sensor 36. The camera barrel31 is opaque to block any light from reaching the vision sensor 36except through a distal end of the camera barrel 31. The camera barrel31 may have one or more lenses therein between the distal end and thevision sensor 36. The lenses are arranged in the lens casing or lensbarrel 31 positioned between the vision sensor and the camera window 18so that an optical axis of the lenses align and coincide with an opticalaxis of the vision sensor. The lenses are spaced apart by spacers. Theexterior housing 9 accommodates part of the PCB.

The tip part 2 is manufactured by an embodiment of the methods accordingto this disclosure as described in the following.

First, the front wall 11, the circumferential wall 12, the windowcomponent 14, and the nozzle 15 are molded in one piece with each otherby means of injection molding in a two-component molding process. Asuitable molding tool is provided, and the first polymer material inmelted or molten form is introduced into the molding tool. The secondpolymer material on a melted form is then introduced into the moldingtool. The first and second materials are then allowed to set and form anintegral component in one unit or one piece. This one piece is thenremoved or extracted from the molding tool. The molding tool comprises afirst cavity, a second cavity, and a core. The first material is allowedto set or partly set before the second material is introduced. Asmentioned, the second material is transparent, and it is introducedunder higher pressure than the first material. The second material formsthe window component 14, which constitutes only a minor part of thetotal material of the exterior housing 9. The first material is opaqueat least in its set form.

Hereby, the exterior housing 9 including the nozzle 15 and the windowcomponent 14 can be manufactured automatically in one single workingprocedure or working step by means of the two-component injectionmolding process as described, which saves time and costs in manufactureof the tip part.

Then, the tubes 21, 22, 13 a can easily be positioned in the channels16, 23, 13, and the remaining components, including the camera, arepositioned into the interior spacing 24 of the exterior housing 9. Thetip part is also attached to the bending section.

Additional embodiments and examples include the following:

[1] A tip part for forming a tip of a disposable insertion endoscope,the tip part comprising: an exterior housing having an open proximal endfor connection to other parts of the endoscope, the housing furtherhaving a front wall, wherein a circumferential wall of the housingextends from a front end of the housing to the proximal end of thehousing, the circumferential wall and the front wall enclosing aninterior spacing accommodating a vision sensor able to provide an imagefrom light received from an object to be investigated; and a camerawindow positioned at least partly in front of the vision sensor, thecamera window being positioned in, positioned in front of, or formingpart of the front wall so that light received from the object can passthrough the window to the vision receptor; wherein the housing furthercomprises a nozzle for flushing an exterior surface of the camera windowwith a liquid transferred to the nozzle through a liquid conduitextending from the proximal end of the housing, through the interiorspacing, and to the nozzle; and wherein the front wall and thecircumferential wall are integrally formed from one polymer material andare in one piece with each other, and the front wall and the nozzle areintegrally formed from said one polymer material and are in one piecewith each other.

[2] A tip part according to [1], wherein the front wall and thecircumferential wall are integrally molded in one piece with each other,and the front wall and the nozzle are integrally molded in one piecewith each other.

[3] A tip part according to [1] or [2], wherein two fluid channels forproviding fluid to the nozzle are formed integrally in one piece withthe exterior housing.

[4] A tip part according to [3], wherein the nozzle comprises at leastpart of a fluid joint, the fluid joint joining flow paths extendingthrough the fluid channels.

[5] A tip part according to [3] or [4], wherein at least part of the twofluid channels extend side-by-side and include an open slot extendinglongitudinally between them.

[6] A tip part according to any one of [3] to [5], further comprisingtwo fluid tubes provided separately from the fluid channels, wherein oneof the two fluid tubes is positioned in each of the two fluid channels.

[7] A tip part according to any one of [3] to [6], wherein a fluidoutlet from each of the fluid tubes terminates at or in the nozzle sothat they form fluid inlets into the nozzle.

[8] A tip part according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein a distalfront surface of the tip part includes the camera window, two fluidinlets extending into the nozzle, and a working channel opening, whereinthe camera window, the two fluid inlets, and the working channel windoware equally distributed on the front surface in a circumferentialdirection of the tip part.

[9] A tip part according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein a firstnozzle fluid inlet to the nozzle is positioned closer to the camerawindow than a second nozzle fluid inlet to the nozzle.

[10] A tip part according to any one of [1] to [9], wherein a ratio ofdepth:width of a nozzle outlet opening is between 1:2 and 1:12.

[11] A tip part according to any one of [1] to [10], further comprisinga window part positioned at or in the front wall, wherein the windowpart comprises the camera window, and the window part is formed of asecond polymer material, the second polymer material being differentfrom said one polymer material.

[12] A tip part according to any one of [1] to [11], further comprisinga light guide positioned in front of a light source.

[13] A method of manufacture of tip part for forming a tip of adisposable insertion endoscope, wherein the tip part comprises: anexterior housing having an open proximal end for connection to otherparts of the vision device, the housing further having a front wall,wherein a circumferential wall of the housing extends from a distal endof the housing to the proximal end of the housing, the circumferentialwall and the front wall enclosing an interior spacing accommodating avision sensor able to provide an image from light received from anobject to be investigated; and a camera window positioned at leastpartly in front of the vision sensor, the camera window being positionedin, positioned in front of, or forming part of the front wall so thatlight received from the object can pass through the camera window to thevision sensor; wherein the housing further comprises a nozzle forflushing an exterior surface of the camera window with a liquidtransferred to the nozzle through a liquid conduit extending from theproximal end of the housing, through the interior spacing, and to thenozzle; said method comprising the step of: integrally molding theexterior housing in one piece so that the front wall and thecircumferential wall are molded in one piece with each other and so thatthe front wall and the nozzle are integrally molded in one piece witheach other.

[14] A method according to [13], further comprising the step ofintegrally molding the exterior housing and the camera window in onepiece with each other in a multi-component molding process, in whichmolding process the exterior housing and the camera window aremanufactured from two different materials.

[15] An endoscope comprising a tip part according to any one of [1] to[12] and/or comprising a tip part manufactured according to any one of[13] and [14].

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 Endoscope    -   2 Tip part    -   3 a Distal end    -   3 b Proximal end    -   4 Insertion tube    -   4 a Outer Sheath    -   5 Handle    -   6 Control button    -   7 Bending section    -   8 Cable    -   8 a Cable connector    -   9 Exterior housing    -   9 a Open proximal end    -   10 Water jet outlet    -   11 Distal front wall    -   11 a Distal surface    -   12 Circumferential wall    -   12 b Step    -   13 Working tube    -   13 a Working tube    -   14 Camera window    -   14 a Exterior surface    -   15 Nozzle    -   15 a Liquid inlet    -   15 b Fluid outlet    -   15 c Nozzle outlet    -   15 d Nozzle roof    -   15 e Top edge    -   15 f Side wall    -   15 g Side wall    -   15 h Side wall    -   15 i Gas inlet    -   16 Liquid channel    -   17 Working channel opening    -   18 Camera window part    -   19 Light window part    -   20 Light guide    -   21 Liquid tube    -   22 Gas tube    -   23 Gas channel    -   24 Interior spacing    -   25 Slot    -   30 Camera    -   31 Camera barrel    -   32 LED    -   33 Circuit board    -   34 Cable    -   35 Circuit component    -   36 Vision sensor

The invention claimed is:
 1. An endoscope comprising: a tip part, thetip part including: a housing having a proximal end, a front endopposite the proximal end, a circumferential wall extending from thefront end to the proximal end, a front wall, and a nozzle, thecircumferential wall and the front wall defining an interior spacing ofthe housing; a vision sensor positioned in the housing; and a camerawindow positioned at the front end of the housing; wherein the housingfurther comprises, extending proximally from a proximal surface of thefront wall, a gas channel and a liquid channel, the gas channel sizedand shaped to receive a distal end of a gas tube and the liquid channelsized and shaped to receive a distal end of a liquid tube, wherein thenozzle comprises a nozzle roof positioned distally of the gas channeland the liquid channel, the nozzle roof defining a nozzle outlet,wherein the gas channel, the liquid channel, the nozzle outlet and thecamera window are aligned such that a plane parallel to a longitudinaldimension of the distal tip traverses the gas channel, the liquidchannel, the nozzle outlet and the camera window, and wherein the nozzleroof is sized and shaped to cause a gas and a liquid discharged throughthe distal ends of the gas tube and the liquid tube to impinge on, andbe redirected by, the nozzle roof through the nozzle outlet toward thecamera window along the plane.
 2. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein thefront wall, the circumferential wall, and the nozzle are integrallymolded in one piece with each other.
 3. The endoscope of claim 2,wherein the gas channel and the liquid channel are formed integrally inone piece with the housing.
 4. The endoscope of claim 3, wherein thenozzle comprises at least part of a fluid joint, the fluid joint joiningliquid and gas flow paths extending distally from the gas channel andthe liquid channel to the nozzle roof.
 5. The endoscope of claim 3,wherein the gas channel abuts the liquid channel and an open slotextends longitudinally between the gas channel and the liquid channel.6. The endoscope of claim 3, wherein the gas channel is positionedbetween the camera window and the liquid channel and extends distallyfurther than the liquid channel.
 7. The endoscope of claim 1, furthercomprising a handle, an insertion tube, a bending section, the gas tubeand the liquid tube, wherein the gas tube and the liquid tube extendfrom the handle to the tip part through the insertion tube and thebending section.
 8. The endoscope of claim 1, further comprising awindow component including the camera window and a light window, whereinthe front wall comprises a cutout and the window component is sealinglybonded to the front wall at the cutout.
 9. The endoscope of claim 8,wherein the window component comprises a light guide extendingproximally from the light window, the light guide including a sectionwith an increasing cross-sectional area in the distal direction.
 10. Theendoscope of claim 1, wherein the nozzle roof comprises a wallpositioned opposite the front wall and having a transitional portionthat is generally concave.
 11. An endoscope comprising: a tip partincluding: a front wall; a nozzle integrally formed in one piece withthe front wall; a vision sensor; and a camera window sealingly bonded tothe front wall and positioned distally of the vision sensor; a gaschannel and a liquid channel, the gas channel and the liquid channelextending proximally from the front wall, the gas channel sized andshaped to receive a distal end of a gas tube and the liquid channelsized and shaped to receive a distal end of a liquid tube, wherein thenozzle comprises a nozzle roof positioned distally of the gas channeland the liquid channel, the nozzle roof defining a nozzle outlet,wherein the gas channel, the liquid channel, the nozzle outlet and thecamera window are aligned such that a plane parallel to a longitudinaldimension of the distal tip traverses the gas channel, the liquidchannel, the nozzle outlet and the camera window, and wherein the nozzleroof is sized and shaped to cause a gas and a liquid discharged throughthe distal ends of the gas tube and the liquid tube to impinge on, andbe redirected by, the nozzle roof through the nozzle outlet toward thecamera window along the plane.
 12. The endoscope of claim 11, whereinthe gas channel and the liquid channel are formed integrally in onepiece with the front wall.
 13. The endoscope of claim 12, wherein thenozzle comprises at least part of a fluid joint, the fluid joint joiningliquid and gas flow paths extending distally from the gas channel andthe liquid channel to the nozzle roof.
 14. The endoscope of claim 11,further comprising a light guide including a section with an increasingcross-sectional area in the distal direction.
 15. A method tomanufacture an endoscope comprising a tip part, the method comprising:integrally molding in one piece a front wall, a circumferential wall,and a nozzle, the front wall and the circumferential wall forming ahousing defining an internal space, the housing having a proximal endand a front end opposite the proximal end; positioning a vision sensorin the internal space; positioning a camera window at the front end ofthe housing; wherein the front wall includes, extending proximally froma proximal surface of the front wall, a gas channel and a liquidchannel, the gas channel sized and shaped to receive a distal end of agas tube and the liquid channel sized and shaped to receive a distal endof a liquid tube, wherein the nozzle comprises a nozzle roof positioneddistally of the gas channel and the liquid channel, the nozzle roofdefining a nozzle outlet, wherein the gas channel, the liquid channel,the nozzle outlet and the camera window are aligned such that a planeparallel to a longitudinal dimension of the distal tip traverses the gaschannel, the liquid channel, the nozzle outlet and the camera window,and wherein the nozzle roof is sized and shaped to cause a gas and aliquid discharged through the distal ends of the gas tube and the liquidtube to impinge on, and be redirected by, the nozzle roof through thenozzle outlet toward the camera window along the plane.
 16. The methodof claim 15, wherein positioning the camera window at the front end ofthe housing comprises integrally molding the housing and the camerawindow in one piece with each other, wherein the housing and the camerawindow comprise different materials.
 17. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising integrally molding a light guide with the camera window inone piece with each other.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the gaschannel is positioned between the camera window and the liquid channeland extends distally further than the liquid channel.
 19. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising inserting the distal end of the liquid tubeinto the liquid channel and inserting the distal end of the gas tubeinto the gas channel.